Description

Ramon Musquiz Document Signed. One page in Spanish, 8" x
12.75", November 12, 1831, Bexar [San Antonio], with heading
"Headquarters of the Department of Bexar/ No. 22/ To Note No.
22", to an official of Goliad. This document contains a
transcription of a supreme order from "His Excellence the
Governor of the State in document of 24 October" regarding
allowing certain "Spaniards who are detained in the
prison-ship" to disembark at Mexican ports on one condition. In
part: "With this date I say to the harbor masters and officers
of maritime customhouses what follows = His Excellency the Vice
President has deigned to order that Spaniards who are detained in
the prison-ship and who have certificates exempting them from the
law of 20 March of 1827 . . . should be allowed to disembark so
that they will not suffer the illnesses and afflictions which are a
consequence of prolonged stays on the coast, with the condition
that they will travel to the area of the State designated by His
Excellency, the Governor, and where they will remain until the
General Congress resolves this issue." Excluded were those
"Spaniards who incorporated themselves or took part in the
invasion of the Republic perpetrated by Gen. Barradas, and those
who have not been in the country previously and are here for the
first time, and these should not be allowed under any circumstances
to jump ship." The transcribed order goes on to say that Bexar
was chosen as the location that the detained Spaniards were to wait
"until the sovereign General Congress resolves this issue."
After the transcribed letter, Musquiz tells the alcalde that he is
sending this order to him "for your knowledge in order that you
ensure that those Spaniards who as a consequence of the above
mentioned supreme order are allowed to disembark, are transported
to this city [Bexar]."

Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821. Six years later, Mexico
passed the General Law of Expulsion which expelled all foreigners,
especially Spaniards, from Mexico. In 1829, Spain sent 4,000 men
under General Isidro Barradas to reconquer Mexico. Bad weather,
disease, and lack of supplies conspired against the campaign.
Barradas was defeated by Santa Anna in September of 1829, thus
finalizing the independence of Mexico. In 1828, Ramon Musquiz was
appointed political chief of the Department of Texas by the
governor of Coahuila and Texas; he served until 1834. Present at
the Alamo, he helped identify the Texas dead. Toned with light
foxing; fine.